Breech-loading ordnance



De.; 18,1928. .y 1,695,841

A. T. DAWSON ET AL BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE Filed Aug. 25, 1926 PatentedDec.l 182, i928. p

^ Vulflrllazn lSTATels ARTHR- Tamron DAWsoN AND cartoncini '.rHoMA's'BueKiAmor 1Wiis'ri/IINseien,sYI-.oNV f f DoN, ENGLAND, YAssreNonsyro`Violines LIMITED, or-WESTMINSTED, LONDON,

ENGLAND.

This invention relates to v breach loading ordnance of the.semi-automatic type lin'.

as to openthe breech andenergize a springv which, when the gun isre-loaded, operates V to close the breech.. The said partofthebreechactuating mechanism has usually'been` Vconating crank shaft andvformed *with a` toe which strikes VVthe end of the pavvl during therun-out movement, --and itV has been found' in some` instancesthatthe'lforce ofgthe im-g 15 pact between the toe and the pawl is so greatasto throw the gunaout ofalignment to 'suchY an extent as to necessitatere-setting.

According tothe present invention in order tovvobviate theabove-mentioned disadvantage Y erating surface during the run-outmovement 25 ofthe gun so as to givej agradual angular 'movement ofthecrankrand the actuating shaft on which it is mounted, insteadv of' the'sudden movement produced b vxthe impact of the toe of the cam withtheend ofthe pa-Wl as aforesaid. .The pawlfmay'be pivotedinj a4 ibracket Which is attached to thecradle and has a surfaceuponwhichthelower part of the paWl rests Whenin itsoperative position,the pavvl beingresilientlvheld in thisv position bya suitablyarrangedspring. The upper part of the pavvlfis formed with the Yaforesaidoperatingsurface with Whichkthe pin, or projection 'onsthe aforesaid.crank ,copoperates, during the run-out 'movement "of the gun, Vto openthe breech.v VVhen-the gun occupies the normal run-out or firing .posiytion'the said pinjor'projectiomis situated in front of the paWl l sothat Whengthe breech is closed the pin or projection c'janjpassbeneaththe paWl" at the next recoil movement of the gun, the said'pin orprojection during' this movement co-'operating Vvvithf a lwer curved orinclined surface/on .the paWl to lift the latter against theresistanceof its spring,

rear ofthe fpawl the latter is returned .byl its spring to-.theoperative position ready to op'- erate the crank during the next run-eutInovement of the gun as described above` stituted by a cam mounted onthe breechV actu-- When the pinor projection has passed tothe The can bemovedv to theinoperative i PATE-lar.QF

BREEcnLoADrNGK,oRDNANcn- Q -f I, v

' position vvhe'n'the gun isto be'usedasan 4ordi-"f` l naryquick-'firing gun andA for this purpose the Isaid',pawlmay'haveyalateralprojection` l' y disposeddn a .recess `in "manuallyoperatedyspring#controlled plunger arranged lon'gi tudinally'vintheaforesaidibracket, the "sra-icl" projectionpreferably servingv topreventrof'fl 'Il tationof the plunger. This`plunger mayljb` operated ahandlemwhich'ri's pivdted -tlefY 'Y i outerendofthe plunger and 'hascamorecf iInv order vthat they said invention 'ma-jfgjbej L clearlyunderstoodand readilycarried into effect, thek same WillfIlW bedescribed'lmore fully' Vwith reference` tojthe accompanying.dravving's,` in vvhich]-` j f vFigure 1V is a localrear..elevationshevvingfv a constructional form offcur improvements,,f 1. Figure 2 1s a section taken ap'prozz'i'mz'zcelyVv ,Y e

on .the line 2, 2 of Figureul-andl shewing'jhe,

lparts indifferent /positionsthey oc'c upytluy .l Y'

ing the recoil movement ofthe'gun, 1 v kfFigure Bis vafvievv similarxtojFigure 2 but, with Y the gun and gun Vvcradle omitted, shew L ingth'e'crarik in different Vper;itions occupie during' the runoutlmovementofthegun, fg .1

Figurefjlris aseetion takenf app:roxima-telveV 'oaths une; 4, i ofrigure1-isi1ewingehepmi; f Y f in thez''operative positiony for;Vsemi-automatic operation? of the breechnmechanism. j eeshegwf,

Figure 5'is a view similar to Figu parte pawi'inih inopefaave@Siamese/teich: y r p 'Y l Y,Figureis a local sectionztalrenapprozi 'Yniatelyontheline', 6 ofFig'ure4andivjievved I from the left handsi-,de,of the latter figure;V ,g 95, gunand Brepr'esentspart,of'the'guncradle.l

'A rep'resents Vpartfof thefbreechendof.the iCfrepresentstheaforesaidcrankon'the breech @aiming-@rank Shaft, this@renewing-prof; i;-

vided with' the* aforesaid lateraldpin or proef jection Gf Awhich issuitably shapedbutvvhich V"in,:Figure'et' to permit therequiredangular@VV 'f movements of thefplavvl ftqjoccur, .The j said: L wvl he'e' @erred @irpef Surface d, diepe-ed fc5 centric surfacesbearingyagainst j' and d Y j 100.. fmight be'replaced byarollerk Drepresents the aforesaid pawlhavingapivot D1' disposed Vina-'hole E .inabr'acketEfattachedxtothe" i Y' cradle `B, the 'saidp'ivotbeingfretained inpo- Y j" v 1 105 bracket El Where it is normallyretained by a l in theA path of the aiforesaidlateral' piiiforprojection C1 during the run-out movements "of the gun and has also alower curved-surface d1' disposed in the path of the said lateralpin orVprojection during the recoil movementsof the gun. Ata position outsidethe pathof thev said lateral pin or projectionythe lower-part of thepaWl D is shaped as shewn more particularly in Figures 2 and 3V andbears againstV 1 a .correspondingly shaped portion of I the springplungerV elfrcarried'V byv the said bracket. This bracket is, of'course,Y soi formed that the lateral pin or projection C1' zclears-itduring the recoil and' run-out movements of the gun. r The' saidvvbracket is also' formed With a recess e2 as sheWn inore'pa'rtijcularlyin Figure 2. so as to permit the paw] D to be raised intothe 'positionYshevvn' chain lines in that figure as'will be herein# Vafter described.In the run-outp'osition'of r the gunwith the 'breech mechanim closed",the crank C occupies the position shewn at the left-'hand side of FigureQwiththe lateral pin or projection C1 situatedin front of the pawl. Y

D; During the recoil ofthe gun thev pin or projection C1 bears againstthe lower surface (Z1 ofthe pjaWl and'raises the latterinto the po- `sition,sheyviiby chain lines in Figure 2, the

said pin' or projection then clearing the p'awl DV which is returned bythe spring plunger el;

The position of the c'rankCv at Vtheend ofthe runout movement ofthe-gunand With the breech mechanism open is sliewn at the lefthand partof lfigiire 3 and asthe breech mech anism closes the crank and its pinor projection return to theY position shewn at theA left'- hand part ofFigure 2. v

D2' represents the aforesaid vlateral pro-jedV tion on'the paWl D andFrepresents the inan-Y ually operatedl and spring-controlled plunger bywhich the paWl can be moved intothe inoperativepo'sition shewn byVFigure 5 When the gun is to'be used as an ordinaryouickiiring gun, thatis to sayrwhen the breech is to be opened by hand. This plunger isarrangedr longitudinally in the bracket Ff and at its front portion isprovided With a recess in Ywhich the lateral projection D2 on the paWlengages, the .said rec'esszhaving a flat surface (see Figurev)situatedgbeneathlthe lateral projection D2 so that the latter serves toprevent' rotation ofthe plunger F. The spring F1 ofthe said plunger issituated in an axial recess in the plunger With the front end of theVspring bearing against'ther endof this recess.

The rearend ofl theV spring abuts against a plug F 2 which isconnected'to the bracket El by' means Of a pin f2 Which passes through ahole' in the plug F 2,.;a 'holes-in the bracket El and: azslot in the;plunger Fv so as to-'perniit the plunger to movelongitudinal'ly Vwithvrepect to the plug F P. At its rear end the said Vplunger has' jpivoted`thereto a handle F3 which i's-provided' with cam or eccentric surfacesf3 bearing against the contiguousrear surface ofV the' bracket El. Thenthe said handle is pointing downwards as shewn in Figure-4 the spring F1holds the plunger F in the position sheWii in that Figure lsuch that thep'aWl D'i'sfree` to `occupy'the operative po'- sition'l above describedwith reference to Fig- .ures 2 and 3.( but when theihandle is 'movedinto the position shewn in F igurey 5 the cam surfacesf3retractthefplunger F and vthe paWl D is thereby held in theinoperative lposition sheWn in that ligure suchthat it is out of thepath ofthe lateral pin or projecti'cinV C! and" the crank C is thereforenot operated during the run-out movement ofthe` gun. 1 Y

lThe herein described pawl and-crank can be used with breech mechanismhaving either horizontally sliding breech block or a vel'- ticallysliding breech block Vand in theflatter` case the balancing spring andthe main closing spring described in the speciiication of our patentapplication filed concurrently here- With can, Withadvantage, beemployed.`

What VWe claim and desire Vto s cure by LettersPatent of the UnitedStates is Y l., In breech-loading ordnance ofthe semiautomatictype, aAcradle for the gun, `breechactuating mechanism therefor,A a crankAconnected to said mechanism, and n'i'eansgon said cradle and on saidcrank,foiagivingfsaid crank an initially slow` and (gentle openingmovement, Aa gradually increasing angular 'acceleration, andafinalhighrate of angular movement, as and for the purposes specified.

'2; B'reech loading ordinance of the sen'riautomatic type, comprising al 3radle,-a paWl thereon having two operating'faces, a crank Y formingpart of t-he 'breech mechanism and for closing the breech, a lateralprojection on said crankcooperating `With Vone of said vpaivl operatingsurfaces during the run `out movement of the gun to energizesaidspriiig,'said projection cooperatingwith .the other ysurfacesofsaidpaWl vduringrecoilfto rock said paWl which returns'into'. operativeposition before the run out. commences7 the operating facesonsaidpawlhaving such a shape in relation to the shape'of the faceoffsaid crankjasl togive, during therun outya grad-A ual, acceleratingangularimovement to said crank and its breech actuating shaft, there-'bypreventing the setting-up of unbalanced forces on said breech wherebythe llay of the gun is not disturbed A. Breech loading 'ordnance' ofthefsemi- Ymounted on a breech actuating shaft, afspring Y automatictype,- comprisingy a cradle, a vpavv'l thereon having two operatingkfaces`,a crank forming part of the breech'vmec'hanisin and mounted onva Vbreech actuating sha-ft, -a

spring for Yclosin'gthebreech, a lateral prop jection on saidcrankcoopera-ting with one of said pavvl operating surfaces during thev runout movement of the gun to energizesaid spring, saidV proj ect-ioncooperating With the otherl surfaces of said pavvl during recoil tovrock said .paivl which i'etu'rilis'into operative position beforetlierun out-commences',v the operating faces onsaid pavvl having such ashape in relation tothe shapeoffthey Yface of` said crank as to give,'during the run out, a gradual, accelerating angular movementlto saidcrank and its breech actuating shaft, the' operatingsurface'vvithfvvhich said projecrVv tion cooperatesbeing located ontheupper partof said paivl, said paivl being providedVV on itsloWerportion WithY a sloping surface,` said projection bearing on saidsurfaces dur` ing recoil to thereby lift said pawl'against theresistance of said spring. l

4;.' Breech loading' ordnance Yof the semi`V automatic type, comprisinga cradle, a. Ypavvlv thereon having two operating faces, a crank formingAp art ofthe breech mechanism' andy mounted on a breech actuating shaft,a spring for rclosing the breech, a lateral Vprojectionr on said crankcooperating With-'one 4,ofi-said pavvloperating surfaces during the runout movement of the gun to energizefsaidspring,

said projection cooperating withy the other surfaces Vof said pawlduring recoil-toV rockV said paivl'vvhich returns into operative posi- Ytion before the run out commences, the operf ating faces on saidpaivlihaving such a-shape in relation to the shape ofthe face of saidVVcrank as to give, during the'run"out,a gradual, acceleratingangularmovemeiit Ato said crank and its breech actuatingshaft, said pawlbeing pivoted ina bracket attachedfto said cradle, saidbra-ckethavinga-surface upon WhichL theloiver part of thezpavvlfrests` when in`(')perative position, and means on saidbracketfor resiliently holdingvsaid pavvlv in said position.

5. Breech loading ordnance 'of thefrseiniautomatic type, comprising acradleya pavvlf thereon having two operating faces,.a^ crankv formingpart of the breech'mechanism'andl mounted on a breech actuating shaft,aspring for closingthe breech, a. lateral projection yon said crankcooperating with one of said rpavvl operating surfaces during therunjout movement of the gun to venergize saidspring, f 1 saidjprojectioncooperating V'With lthefo'ther surfaces of said paivlduri'ng recoiltofjrock f Y saidpavvlvvhich returnsinto operative posi-16o tion beforethe run jo'ut-conimcnceg'the oper# ating'faces on said pawl having sucha shape'v in relation tothe shape of the vfaceofsaid crank as togive,'during the-run out, a grade,V ual,y accelerating angularniovementto sai"dl6'5 crankand litsf breech actuating" shaft,V and ai v manuallyvoperated "and spring-*controlled* Y i plunger arrangedlongitudinallyinfthe supe,

porting bracket of said pawl, saidffpavvl'havy Y *ing-alateralprojection disposedfinV a recess 70 in said plungerf"` A' 'Y6,.-In'breech-loadingordnanceas inclaim f i 2', `the combination withtheelementsclaimed v in claimf 2 of a manually operated plunger l' j.arranged longitudinally fin .the fbfiacketV ;-in. '15 1f .which the'Apivoted memberfis inounted,"ay; spring controlling said.plunger,alateral'pro-j jection on said member, saidsproje'ction engl gagingi in arecess in4 said plungerfsoasftomq prevent rotation'thereof. 1 1: 80 *j7; uIn'breech-loadingordnance as in claiml 2,the combinationAwiththe'elementsclaimed j i in claim 27offaiii`1anuallyoperatedjplungei` arranged jlongitudiifiallyiV in'` the V-braCke'tQinr:y i' `vvliich`- ther-pivoted member' is;ginounted]21;55,d 'springVcontrolling said plunger, Haj.,lateralJ projection-onsaid member, vsaidprojectionrjl engaging y in a recessinsaid plunger so as to'y prevent.'rotation---'offtlie-v latter, vaf'fl'iandle2y pivoted tothe outer,end'of said plunger and`90' cani surfaces. onf said 1 handle forbearing Vagainst- 'saidf'bracketso as'to retract lsaid plunger and`Vlift said pivoted'v member fvvhen f said handleisoperatedlfy Y Y8.kInbreech loading ordnance of thef'semi1-,95 automatic type',theg'cjoinbiiia'tion ofacrank f connected tothe breech actuatingmech'anisiin; a lateral projection onsaidv crank, and amein ber on thecradle havingan*operatingsur y face'fgiving a gradual 'angularmovementto v.100

saidy crank` during theV run-out movement of?l the gun, ,said member 1also v"having anotherj' 'Y surface vvith v."Whichl saidlateralprojection cooperates .during the `recoil movement offy thegungto vrlift 'said member, `and spring ff 0u for returningvsaid,'-.in'em'ber to its'original. j position'fvvhentheflateralprojection has f A passed tofthe'rear `o'i'isaid member; Y

ARTHURTREVORDAWSON

